Grain Handling of the Future Driven by Technology

Fremont, CA: The need for efficient grain handling, storage, and processing solutions has reached unprecedented importance for farmers, traders, organizations, and nations. Ongoing political instability and trade restrictions have disrupted global supply chains, causing severe shortages and driving up grain prices as exports from major producing regions decline. To address these challenges, governments and non-governmental bodies are investing in advanced storage infrastructure designed to extend grain shelf life—an essential measure for strengthening food safety and securing long-term food security.

Trends in Grain Storage

Grain storage has experienced a significant transformation from conventional aerial storage methods to contemporary solutions, including warehouses, airtight bags, and bulk grain silos, driven by climate change and food safety issues. These modern structures are designed to safeguard grains against moisture, pests, and temperature variations, extending their storage duration.

Various types of bulk grain silo storage exist, including hopper bottom silos and flat bottom silos, each available in a range of capacities. Additionally, galvanized iron corrugated (GIC) silos are pretty popular among industries in India.

Grain bunkers are recognized as a highly cost-effective and scientifically sound solution for storing grain over short to medium durations. Their capacities range from approximately 500 metric tons to as large as 30,000 metric tons.

Grain-Handling Equipment

In contemporary grain storage and processing facilities, mechanical conveyors are essential for transporting grain, flour, feed, and various other products.

Producers have access to an extensive range of grain-handling equipment, which includes sieves, sample bags, belt-and-bucket elevators, sack elevators, drag chain conveyors, belt conveyors, augers (screw conveyors), and grain receivable choppers, among other options.

A significant portion of this equipment is characterized by efficiency, versatility, adaptability, and high capacity; however, they tend to generate considerable noise during operation and can be expensive, limiting accessibility for smallholder farmers.

These machines are engineered to reduce grain damage, a critical aspect given that pulses are more vulnerable to impact damage than cereals. Grain producers and processors recognize the necessity of preserving grain quality, as it directly impacts their profitability. Consequently, investing in tailored grain-handling equipment is essential for safeguarding grain reserves and enhancing operational efficiency.

Grain Processing

Cereals experience several processing stages from the time of harvest until they are consumed. This sequence of operations is commonly known as the total post-harvest system.

In many countries, the post-harvest system can be categorized into three specific areas: the preparation of harvested grains for storage, primary processing—which includes additional treatments to clean the grains, remove the husk, or reduce their size—and secondary processing, which converts the grains into consumable products.

Various processes are engaged by numerous grain processors during the primary processing stage, including cleaning, grading, hulling, milling, pounding, grinding, tempering, parboiling, soaking, drying, and sievi